SCOTTISH PLANNING POLICY AND THE WILD LAND MAP

George Allan

In the last edition of Mountain Views (number 69), Dave Windle detailed NEMT's response to the drafts of National Planning Framework 3, Scottish Planning Policy and the Scottish Natural Heritage wild land map developed in conjunction with these. The final documents have now been published. Together they have the potential to ensure that our finest landscapes are better protected. However, they do not offer watertight protection for large areas and it is essential that planning authorities apply the spirit of the relevant sections of NPF3 and the Scottish Planning Policy when making decisions affecting wild land. There are serious concerns that the new arrangements do not go far enough and future conflicts are unavoidable; however the Scottish Government is to be commended for, belatedly, recognising that wild land should not just be exploited for infrastructure developments but that it has other major benefits, both environmental and human.

Wild Land Map

This has been altered somewhat following the consultation. The total area designated as wild land has changed little but some areas designated as wild land have been increased and a new area in Mull has been added. Three significant areas have been removed; these are:

• a large section of land south of Loch Tay;
• an area south west of Peebles;
• a wide corridor stretching either side of the Corrieyairack. This, inevitably, includes the area where the Stronelairg wind farm will be. Worryingly, removal of the land west of this may signal that this is a suitable location for other wind farms.

The map showing the additions and removals is available at http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A1323226.pdf

Planning policy

Key sections include the following statements:

• wind farms will not be acceptable in National Parks and National Scenic Areas;
• wind farms may (NEMT's underlining) not be appropriate in "areas of significant protection" (not a legal designation). Land covered by SNH's wild land map is listed in such areas, amongst other places;
• "Wild land character is displayed in some of Scotland's remoter upland, mountain and coastal areas, which are very sensitive to any form of intrusive human activity and have little or no capacity to accept any new developments. Plans should identify and safeguard the character of areas of wild land as identified in the 2014 SNH map of wild land areas."
• "Planning permission should be refused where the nature or scale of proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the natural environment. Direct or indirect effects on statutorily protected sites will be an important consideration, but designation does not impose an automatic prohibition on development."
• "Planning authorities should apply the precautionary principle where the impacts of a proposed development on nationally or internationally significant landscape or natural heritage resources are uncertain but where there is sound evidence indicating that significant irreversible damage could occur."

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